The perfect reading group choice for the year of the Beijing Olympics

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Two couples – Wenya and Zhiying, Zhenzhen and Lao Gao – meet, marry and become inseparable just as China is shaking off the memory of war and the brightest of its youth are pledging themselves to building a vibrant new future. Yet for all that their lives embody the ideals of the young republic, they are spared none of the suffering and hardship that are to follow, through years of famine and the terror of the Cultural Revolution. It is the two women who form the most powerful bond, and Wenya’s loyalty and Zhenzhen’s spirit sustain them both through their darkest hours. And as a new, more affluent China dawns and the struggle for survival gives way to an equally fierce battle to protect the values closest to their hearts, Zhenzhen teaches Wenya an unforgettable lesson about courage.

'A must for Wild Swans fans' Elle

‘A fine combination of delicacy and steeliness...the yin and yang of marriage, Wenya's barbed relationship with her widowed mother, loyalty misplaced and rediscovered-makes for a warm and understated novel' Guardian

'Hong's simple but engaging style makes accessible difficult subjects that are far removed from most of our experiences, and the emotions of joy, loss and betrayal surrounding relationships are beautifully conveyed’ London Paper